I never decide if an idea is good or bad until I try it. So much of what gets in the way of things being good is thinking that we know. And the more that we can remove any baggage we're carrying with us, and just be in the moment, use our ears, and pay attention to what's happening, and just listen to the inner voice that directs us, the better.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of experimentation and being present when evaluating ideas.
Rick Rubin's quote highlights the idea that we often hold back our creative potential by prematurely labeling ideas as good or bad based on preconceived notions. Instead, he advocates for a mindset of experimentation and presence, suggesting that by shedding our assumptions and truly engaging with the moment, we can better connect with our inner wisdom and make more insightful decisions.
In practice
In a workshop setting, to inspire participants to share their ideas without fear of judgment.
I don't even know what a traditional producer is or does. I feel like the job is like being a coach, building good work habits and building trust. You want to get to a point where you can say anything and talk about anything. There needs to be a real connection.
Usually when I start a new project there's a fear of the unknown; maybe it's a band I've never been in the studio with before. People are so different. It's almost like you need to go through the process, discover and unlock what it is that makes that band that band. And a lot of times they don't know it.
I never made beats to make beats; I only made them when there was a record to make them for. That's one of the things that has changed in hip-hop that's made me like it less. It feels much more like it's a producer-driven medium, where there are all these tracks that are completely interchangeable.
I don't know what makes someone hip. The goal is artist achievement and the best work we can do with no limitation.
Everything I do, whether it's producing or signing an artist, always starts with the songs. When I'm listening, I'm looking for a balance that you could see in anything. Whether it's a great painting or a building or a sunset.
Everything happens kind of the way it's supposed to happen, and we just watch it unfold. And you can't control it. Looking back, you can't say, "I should've..." You didn't, and had you, the outcome would have been different.
Our first duty is not to hate ourselves, because to advance we must have faith in ourselves first and then in God. Those who have no faith in themselves can never have faith in God.
Terrible things happen all of the time, and they can happen in a second. The best thing is to be prepared to react. If you try to control every little thing, you're going to end up miserable - and you're going to fail.
Writer’s block is only a failure of the ego.
Good breeding is the result of good sense, some good nature, and a little self-denial for the sake of others.
To have become a deeper man is the privilege of those who have suffered.
If a problem cannot be solved, enlarge it.
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